What I liked
The playfulness of the actor
What I didn't like
I can’t think of anything offhand!
My overall impression
I am relatively new to the concept of immersive theater, so I went into The Complaint Department Experience with no expectations. There was a bit of mental preparation involved in that I was asked to come with a notion of what complaint it was I wanted to file. So, with that in mind, I met up with the ‘supervisor’ of the complaints department ( as opposed to, it is explained, The Solutions Department). Next, I was seamlessly escorted to a most unconventional theater space, but I won’t spoil the fun by describing it here. A side note about my physical limitations…I am compromised in my movement, but I found it easy to navigate the space.
Once seated, a series of interactive activities sets the tone for what follows. As a participant, I was given ample time to voice my grievance(s) to the sympathetic ear of the Supervisor. The supervisor character plays their role that strikes a nice balance between an over-the-top persona and a helpful guide counselor. The actor portraying the Compliant Supervisor is a natural empath and excellent listener. You feel genuinely cared for and ‘heard’/ You find yourself expressing the kinds of sentiments you might share with a therapist, and the session easily finds its rhythm that is both serious and playful. If, like me, you’re new to immersive theater, The Complaints Department offers the perfect introduction to this innovative form of
Theater.
